Have you ever found yourself trying to watch your figure and reading the nutrition information on the back of certain foods to help get a better understanding about whether or not that particular food would be beneficial or detrimental to your diet? If so, what did you read first? 9 times out of 10 your eyes will immediately be drawn the fat content of certain foods, rather than the amount of calories, carbohydrates, or sugars that they contain. Not too long ago, fat was considered the root of all evil and we were led to believe that low-fat, near zero fat diets, were required in order to lose weight. Because of this, people would obsess over the fat content of foods, and would often follow high carb, moderate protein diets instead. Experts soon discovered that individuals not consuming enough fat on a daily basis were not only suffering from various health conditions, but were also actually struggling to lose weight, and were even gaining weight in some cases, even though they were “dieting”. New research soon uncovered the fact that not all fats are the same, and that if they come from healthy fat sources, foods rich in healthy fats can not only keep us healthy, they can help us to shed the pounds as well. Here are 5 fatty foods that have been proven to melt body fat and help us lose weight quickly and efficiently.
Grass-fed beef
Ok, grass-fed beef is indeed more expensive than commercial raised, grain-fed beef, but the reason for that is because it’s better for us. The price isn’t that much different to regular beef and it’s still extremely affordable, and the fact that it contains a fantastic ratio of healthy fats will more than justify its slightly higher than average price tag. Grass-fed beef contains far more omega 3 fatty acids than grain-fed beef, and as omega 3 fatty acids are so incredibly beneficial for our health and well-being, it’s no wonder why grass-fed is far superior. One of the many benefits provided by omega 3 fatty acids, is their ability to not only boost the metabolism and allow us to burn more calories, but also their ability to communicate with fat metabolising enzymes within the body, and basically tell them to burn belly fat as a primary source of energy, instead of glucose sugars from carbohydrates. People think that carbohydrates are the body’s preferred source of energy but they aren’t, fat is, which is why diets rich in healthy fats can help to encourage and promote fat-loss. There’s also the added bonus of the beef being rich in protein, which promotes muscle mass and helps increase resting metabolic rates as well. To help keep calorie consumption low, trim away any visible fat from the steak.
Olive oil
There are now an abundance of healthy cooking oils available to purchase from pretty much all food suppliers, which may very well indicate the fact that finally, hydrogenated and unhealthy oils rich in trans fats, which are extremely unhealthy fats, may finally be on their way out. Olive oil is an extremely healthy oil that is packed full of polyphenols which have been proven to provide many anti-cancer benefits. The oil is also a great source of monounsaturated fats, which are very healthy, especially when it comes to heart health. As far as weight loss is concerned, olive oil is ideal because of one particularly effective hormone known as Adiponectin, which is a hormone which plays a key role in the breaking down and metabolising of body fat. Studies have revealed that diets rich in olive oil, and indeed extra virgin olive oil, result in higher than average levels of the hormone Adiponectin, which helps to keep your BMI levels low.
Dark chocolate
Yes, you are reading this correctly, chocolate is indeed a food that CAN help you to lose weight, providing you consume the right sort, and providing you consume it in the correct quantities. Before you reach for the nearest bar of milk chocolate, unfortunately it’s only dark chocolate that’s healthy and beneficial, especially when you opt for the varieties with really high cocoa quantities which are typically 75% and upwards. The best time to consume dark chocolate is earlier in the day, as experts have found that consuming a few pieces of dark chocolate a couple of hours before eating a meal, will result in you taking in and storing around 18% less calories than you would normally. This is due to natural cocoa butter found in the chocolate, which is actually a form of stearic acid, which naturally slows the digestion. This means that it helps keep you full for longer, it satisfies sweet cravings, and helps boost the metabolism. It is also rich in antioxidants and is even considered a superfood because it provides numerous anti-cancer benefits.
Avocado
Avocado is referred to as “nature’s butter” due to the fact that it has such a rich and creamy texture, providing it’s ripe of course. Although healthy, it is still high in calories so you should ensure you don’t consume too much each day, otherwise you may go over your recommended daily intake. They’re rich in oleic acid found in the natural monounsaturated fats in this fruit, which again has been found to help suppress appetite and alleviate hunger pains. As well as this, they also provide respectable amounts of protein, and fiber as well, which also helps to keep you feeling full for longer.
Wild salmon
Although farmed salmon is still better than nothing, if you can, always try to opt for wild salmon over farmed salmon because the taste and health benefits are so much better. It is a little pricier but you don’t need to consume it for every meal, and it can still be sourced reasonably cheap. Wild salmon is a great source of protein and amino acids, as well as minerals such as iron and zinc as well. It is the heart healthy omega 3 fatty acids found in wild salmon that have experts so especially impressed. These omega 3s help boost brain health, they’re great for the heart, they can lower cholesterol, they promote healthy vision, they improve digestion, and they increase the metabolism, which means that you burn more calories than usual as well.
